Matinee Classics - Ellen Barkin Biography & Filmography

Ellen Barkin ACTOR

PHOTOS

ELLEN BARKIN BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Ellen Barkin was born on April 16th, 1954 in New York City, New York with the middle name Rona, born to parents, Evelyn and Sol Barkin. She was raised in the Bronx and from a young age she had aspirations of pursuing a career as an actress. She studied at Manhattan's High School of the Performing Arts. After earning her high school diploma she enrolled at Hunters College and earned a double degree in history and drama.

Next she went on to study at New York Actor's Studio and after seven years of education she began working as a stage actress appearing in such off-Broadway productions as, "Shout Across the River" (1979), "Extremities" (1983), "Fool for Love" (1984) and "Eden Court" (1985).

Soon she broke into the film industry with roles on such features as, "Diner" (1982), "The Big Easy" (1986), "Siesta" (1987), "Sea of Love" (1989), "The Boy's Life" (1993), "Wild Bill" (1995), "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998), "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (1999) and "Mercy" (2000).

Along with her film credits she also appeared on numerous television movie's and series such as, "Clinton and Nadine" (1988) and "Before Women Had Wings" (1997) for which she won an Emmy award for her performance.

Ellen also returned to stage acting appearing in her first Broadway production, "The Normal Heart" (2011) for which she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

In addition to her acting, along with her brother, they set up their own production company called, Applehead Pictures. Some of her more recent roles have been in the films, "Ocean's Thirteen" (2007) starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia just to name a few of the stars, "Shit Year" (2010) and "Another Man's World" (2011).

She has married twice, first to Gabriel Byrne in 1988 and they had two children before the marriage ended in 1999. She then wed Ronald O. Perelman in 2000 but by 2006 this marriage also came to an end. She currently resides in Manhattan, New York with her two teenage children.